𝗽𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁, teddy lupin

˗ˋ 21

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
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-: fifth year :-

── IN WHICH CELESTE
BEGINS THE TEA PARTY

. . .

Celeste was pissed off.

As she should be. She had known Teddy her entire life. She knew him better than she knew her own twin, as separated as they had become during their Hogwarts life. He knew her better than anyone as well, and she knew that for a fact. Her first friend, her closest friend, and he still thought so little of her.

Teddy knew her. He knew what she was like, that even as a Slytherin she wasn't what they had been stereotyped to be all those years. It wasn't even a generation before them that had seen all Slytherins be viewed as evil, and although after their participation against Voldemort in the Battle of Hogwarts no matter their parents' affiliations the stigma surrounding being in the house of Salazar was lessened, it appeared not as much as originally thought. 

The core values of each house was what everyone possessed, but some just in higher amounts that others. Celeste wouldn't deny it. She held herself in high esteem, whether it be her achievements, smarts or looks. Her mother had taught her that, the value drilled into her since birth - she should take pride in herself, and so Celeste had done. 

She couldn't deny that she was cunning; used her abilities to get her way if she wanted. She was a natural-born leader, had been in the case of her siblings and following younger relatives, and had been as she grew up through her Hogwarts years, eventually landing a place at the head of the Slytherin heirarchy - which was nowhere near as bad as it had been when it had been run by Draco Malfoy.

But even he could be used an example. He admitted his opposition to Voldemort when he needed to, didn't even join his aunt in trying to fight him, instead only needed to be with his parents, no matter where they were. He became a Healer at St. Mungos, used his magic for good, testified against Death Eaters when the newly appointed Auror Potter was working tirelessly to put them away for good. 

Professor Slughorn, all though reaching a point where his skin turned leathery yet the spark in his eye never faded despite the years, was as jolly as a Slytherin could get. 

Yet somehow, somehow they managed to be clumped together as one evil entity, even though their priorities were mostly just trying to get the best out of life with what they had, and what skills could get them there. 

Of course there was a flawless facade that she had put up since being Sorted in the house, needed to fit in. Celeste was the first Weasley to become a Slytherin for generations, and she even faced obvious judgment from her family, which her mother was quick to force out of everyone's mind; her daughter was not evil and didn't hold a remotely bad bone in her body, and that was final.

She just couldn't believe that Teddy of all people seemed to be convinced that no matter what she was like, everyone else in her house was just like how Slytherins had always been. That apparently she could be the sole one who was actually good, and that every other one was pure evil.

He thought that the four girls selected from the entirety of Slytherin first years, who were now  sat in front of Celeste tentatively sipping tea from snake and rose decorated china tea-cups were evil.

He thought that she was going to turn little Alice Longbottom, who had smiled up at her so brightly when she entered the room, thanking her profusely for the invitation yet again and taking a seat directly to her left - something that Evie couldn't even argue for when the Weasley had an expression like that - into some little corrupt psycho who was going to run havoc on the  school.

Teddy. Her best friend Teddy who never failed to make her laugh when she was feeling down, wouldn't hesitate to paint her the entire galaxy across a blank sky, who had stayed up late to help her paint posters and write invitations so that she would be able to hold this meeting. 

Teddy thought she was going to do that to someone, just by offering to do something nice.

Her hand tightened around her spoon, stirring the sugar into her tea quicker and quicker, not even noticing as the metal began to clink against the sides until Bridget tapped her arm and leant forward, curving her hand around as she reached her ear.

"Cora thinks you're looking tense. Evie's concerned you'll get frown lines. What the hell happened between this morning and getting here?" She whispered, before sitting back.

"Teddy Lupin is a prick." Celeste hardly even attempted to disguise her words, turning towards Bridget to gauge her reaction, watching as confusion ran over her features. "However.. that isn't why we're here today, although he seems to think I'll be the kind to slip personality-altering drugs into the milk. So, now that we all have our drinks, feel free to help yourself to any of the food provided by the wonderful house-elves of the Hogwarts' kitchens, and let our introductory meeting begin."

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